Storage and parking garage



Nov. 25, 1930. w. P. ALLRED, JR

STORAGE AND PARKING GARAGE Filed' May 13, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORl W/V//a f? fad/f:

ATTORNEY l Nov. 25, 1930. w. P. ALLRED, JR 1,782,671

STORAGE AND` PARKING GARAGE Fled`May l5. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORMEYVY Nov. 25, 1.930. w. P. ALLRD, .JR 1,782,671

STORAGE' AND PARKING GARAG E l Filedmvay 1:5, 192.9 4 sheets-sheet 5INVENT'OR ATTORNEY Nov. 25, 1930. w. P. ALLRED, .JR

STORAGEAND PARKING GARAGE Filed May 13, 1929 4 sheets-Sheet 4 vn J Y maE Te m m o V/ .T ma u E m m vPatented Nov.f25, 193() UNITED STATESWILLIAM P. ALLRED, JR., F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI STGRAGE ANDPARKING-.GARAGE Application filed May 13,

'10 sary for moving vehicles to and from an elevator, and to enable asingle operator to transfer a vehicle from storage to an entrance orvice versa.

A further object of the invention is to pro- P vide means wherebystorage stalls may be arranged radially of an elevator shaft foreconomical use of storage space.

Further particular objects of the invention 26 are to enhance the safetyfactor in the handling of ears in a garage and particularly to assurethe limiting of movement of a car when being moved from or to anelevator platform. ln accomplishing these and other objects of theinvention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferredforms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: i

Fig. 1 is a view partly diagrammatic of a ground Hoor of a garageconstructed in avccordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is asimilar View of an upper floor.

Fig. 3 i s a vertical section of the garage on the line 34-3, Fig. 7,partly illustrating elevating mechanism.

Fig. Llis a plan view of the elevator and adjacent tloor portions, guidestandards and weight housings being shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of` elevator platform rotatingmechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a stall floor and automobile wheelsillustrating guide rails and a bumper, for retaining the automobile inthe stall.

Fig. 7 is a section of the elevator and adjacent building floor portion,the plat-form of the elevator being partly broken away to show asupporting frame and gearing whereby the elevator platform mayberotated.

Fig. 8 is'a section on the line 8-8,Fig. 7,

1929. Serial No. 362,647.

illustrating mechanism for moving cars to and from the elevator, anautomobile Wheel andaxle being shovvnfragmentarily and partly insection.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9, Fig. 7 partly illustrating therotating support for the elevator platform.

Referring in detail to the drawings:

1 designates side walls, 2 and 3 front and rear walls of a building, and4 cross beams adapted to support floors 5, 6 and 7 and a roof 8 andrepresenting supporting walls of any character of building to whichgarage arking or storing apparatus may be `applied. The building has abasement floor 9.

The apparatus will be described and illustrated as comprising astructure eX- clusively devoted to the handling and storing ofautomotive vehicles, which will be referred to as cars. 70

Each of the floors 5, 6 and 7 is provided with an elevatorwell opening10 preferably circular and with slots 11 extendingradially from theopenings toward T guide rails 12 having their T flanges secured toiianges of vertical posts or I-beam standards 13 'whereby the structureand floors are reinforced, and to which the beams 4 are attached, andweight guides 14 are fixed to the opposite ianges of the standards(Figs. 4 and 7) all of which will be particularly described.

The standards 13 terminate in spaced relation with the roof and amachine room ioor 15 is mounted on and supported by the standards. 85

An elevator generally designated 16f is f vertically movable in alignedfloor openings comprising the elevator shaft or well, and since eachelevator equipment is like the others only one'elevator well and`oneelevator will be described.

The elevator comprises a skeleton platform-supporting member or portion17 preferably formed of steel plates and channel irons, and a similarlyformed top frame element generally designated 18 connected with theplatform support by leg-like vertical I-beams 19 to form a box-likeskeleton frame.

The members 17 and 18 comprise radial 10 arms 20 connected at the axialline of the elevator by a perforate plate 21 later referred to, each setof arms being secured to the vertical I-beams 19 by reinforcing gussetplates 22, and extending into the floor slots for engagement of thegrooved I-beams with j the guide rails. The arms are connected andbraced by strengthening bars 23. The guide rails therefore form a framein which the elevator slides, the outer vertical grooves of the leg-likeI-bea-ms engaging the vertical flanges of' the guide rails.

Counter weights 24 slidable in the Weight guides, are supported bycables 25 connected with the weights and over sheaves 27 supported onbearing brackets 28 at the upper end of the supporting standards 13 andconnected at 29 with the upper ends of the radiating elements of theelevator frame.

The elevator includes five radiating frame elements, in the illustratedstructure, representing adaptation of the construction for transferringand moving cars to provide for a maximum use of space for stallsextending radially from the elevator openings. In view of the width andlength of present day cars, I prefer to provide openings and elevatorshaving diameter of approximately 19 feet for best use of space. Thecounter weight supporting cables 25 are therefore referably attached tovthe ends of the arms t at project into the slots and a plurality ofcounter weights is thus connected with the elevator at a plurality ofpoint-s circumferentially of the elevator.

A second type of counter weight guide 30 is further provided toaccommodate an operating counter weight 31 suspended by a sheave 32 andan operating bundle of cables 33 having outer ends fixed at 34 to theroof of the building. The cables 33 operate over a supporting sheave 35and a motor-connected sheave 36', both mounted on themachine room floor,the cables extending thence downwardly in the elevator shaft, through acentral aperture 37 in the top plate 21 of the elevator frame and oversets of pulleys 38 and 39 respectively pivotally' supported at the innerand outer ends of the several top arms, and having inner ends forming.ver-

tical branches secured to the machine room floor at 40.

A cable is thus provided for each radial member of the elevator frame sothat the' supporting bundle of cables has branches extending radiallyfrom the center of the elevator frame to points adjacent the outer Theplatform-supporting member 17 above referred to, suspendingly connectedwith and supported by the top structure of the elevator frame, isadapted for rotatably supporting a platform 42 comprising askeleton-structure formed of channel bars 43 and a floor 44. For thispur ose an annulus 45 having an upstanding ange 46 provided with anoutwardly downwardly beveled face 47 is fixed to the member 17yconcentrically therewith and wheels 48 are rotatively dependinglymounted on brackets 49 fixed to the platform channels to run on saidbeveled circular rail whereby the elevator platform is constituted aturntable.

In order to effect rotative movement of the platform on its support, agear ring 50 is mounted on the platform support 17 exteriorly to theannulus 45, and a motor 51 supported on a bracket 52 fixed to the plat;form channels adjacent one edge of the platform is provided with alaterally projecting shaft 53 having a gear 54 adapted to mesh with saidgear ring.

The projecting end of the shaft 53 is supported in a bearing 55 securedto an adjacent platform channel as clearly indicated in Fig. 5.

Each apertured floor is provided with a plurality of guide rails 56whereby cars may e guided accurately to the elevator, and

the elevator platform is rovided withsimilar uides 57 adapted fdralignment with the oor guides so that a car being moved from a floor tothe elevator or vice versa, may be restricted' to movement into desiredrelation with the floor or elevator.

Means are further provided for transferring a car from the elevator toafloor or from a floor to the elevator so that the car need not be movedunder its own power for such transfer, such as a chain 58 supported bysprockets 59 and 60 mounted on bearing pedestals 61 at opposite ends ofa diameter of the platform on the center line between g the guide rails,and having its lower run engaged by a sprocket 62 rotatable in bearings63 mounted on a bracket 64 supported by the platform as illustrated inFig. 8. Said sprocket 62 has operative connection through a shaft 65with a motor 66 supported by platform channels in fixed relation withthe rotatable platform, whereby the motor may operate the sprocket'62 tocause the chain to run on its supporting sprockets 59 and 60.

The meshing of the motor actuated sprocket 62 with the lower run of thechain thus leaves the surface of the platform free, to afford advantageslater apparent.

The transferring mechanism further includes a connector or clutch devicegenerally designated 67 which will be called a buggy, including arod-like arm 69 having a hooklike socket 70 at one -endwldapted toreceive and engage the axle 71 of a Gar, and a sece 77 is pivotallymounted on the clutch and4 movably secured thereto, having wheels 78pivotally mounted in the outer endsof its branches for engaging theupper surface of the platform. A spring 79 anchored to the clutch andengaged with the branches of the yoketends to press the wheelsdownwardly, and contrarily to press the bar end of the yoke upwardly andurge the clutch into engagement with the axle.

The elevator operating motor is adapted to be controlled by an operatorstationed on the elevator platform, and the compression type push buttoncontrol is preferably provided of a type commonly used,v so that theelevator may move vertically only when the operator is pushing t-hebutton. Control elements are generally represented by a switch board 80mounted at a suitable position on the turntable elevator. i

Said switch board further represents means for controlling the platformrotating motor and the car shifting motor, a preferred formof controlmechanism being later more particularly described.

In adapting a building for garage uses according to my invention, twosets of car guiding rails are provided in relation to two door openings81 and 82 in the front wall of the building at the main floor 5, saidsets -ofguide rails extending angularly to the side walls of thebuilding. Sufficient space may be left between a side wall and the outerend of the outer guide rail of each set for admitting a car past theguide rails inwardly of the building.

The opening B1 is preferably an entrance for incoming cars, and theopening 82 an exit so that incoming and outgoing cars may be movedbetween the elevators and doors over separate paths. f n

A. plurality of elevators may be provided in a garage building and theseare referably aligned longitudinally in: the buil ing as 1llustrated inFigs. l and 2, eachelevator opening having associated therewith sets ofguide rails positioned similarly to the guide rails of the elevatoropening at the ent-rance. The outer end of each outer guide railisspaced laterally sufficiently from the side wall to permit a car to passthe same and be moved through the building either to or from anotherelevator or outwardly from the louildfy ing through doors provided inthe rear wall.

-useful when a series of elevators is used, since entrance and exitalleys are thus provided for which may extend through a building onopposite sides of the series of elevators.

The arrangement of guide rails for assur` ing the movement of theincoming and outgoing cars into proper relation with the elevator andthe doors affords areas for oiiice, waiting rooms, and similar purposes,said areas being indicated by walls 83, Curbs may be installed outsidethe walls.

Floors spaced vertically from the main or entrance iioor are providedwith sets of guide rails extending radially from the openingsI and anumber of such sets may be provided proportionate to the circumferenceof the elevator opening to accommodate vehicles.

As apparent from the illustration, Fig. 2, a relatively large number ofstalls may be formed around an elevator opening centrally located in arelatively narrow building, the stalls ybeing in fact longer, even incases of the shortest stalls, than the spacing between the elevatoropening and the walls. rlhe stalls project from one elevator openingtoward another and may extend between the spaced ends of radial stallsof the adjacent storage assembly thereby increasing the number of carsthat may be stored for convenient removal in a relatively small space.

In order to assure the retention of a car in a stall, a bumperslikedevice is provided comprising preferably a pipe 84 supported above theiioor by brackets 85 and having a slot 86. A second pipe 87 is slidablethrough one of the brackets and the first named pipe, and has a pin 88movable inthe slot, whereby the second named pipe may be moved acrossthe adjacent guide rail and into the path of one carvwheelvto form abarrier against which the wheel will bear in case the car should tend`to roll from the stall toward the elevator opening.

The conducting wires for electrical current for operating the apparatusmay extend in'suitable conduits and flexible coverings in the elevatorwell, and through the opening in the center plate of the lower portionof the elevator frame toward the switch board.

The switch panel or board is preferably adapted for controlling theplatform rotating motor, and the car shifting motor, and therefore ismounted on the rotatable platform, for example on a pedestal 89 and aswitch board controlling the elevating lifting motor may be installed inthe machinery room. Suitable means of desired character may be providedfor connecting the wires with the switches, in view of the fact'that theplatform rotates with reference to the elevator frame, for example,radial contacts, such as a ball and socket contact element lll) at thecenter of the elevator frame member.

Attention is recalled to the wheelesupporting brackets 49, which areparticularly adapted for mounting on the platform described, comprisingU-shaped castings having inner walls 91 overlying the body portions ofthe platform channels and fixed thereto by bolts 92, and lateral flanges93 formingseats engaging the lower flanges of the platform channels. Thetwo branches of each bracket are provided with registering openings 94to receive the spindle 95 on which a wheel is mounted. Roller bearings96 are further provided on the spindles to facilitate movement of theplatform'.

Attention is further called to the clutch element, which is resilient,and the resilience is preferably conferred by forming the arm 72 ofthinner material than the arm 69, so that said arm 72 will be flexible,for example, to enable the arm to yield more readily when the hook endof either arm engages a chainsupporting sprocket, and thus relievestrains to which the chain and clutch element would be subjected by suchengagement if the arms were rigid.

It is apparent that suitable devices such as bumpers may be installed atthe ends of the stalls as desired to limit the movement of vehicles ineither direction and these are preferably manually operable -so thatthey may be retracted or extended into functioning position as desired.

In using a garage constructed as above described, an incoming car ismoved under its own power to a position adjacent the elevator opening.The buggy is released from the chain by the operator and moved towardthe car. The operator presses down on the clutch arms to introduce thebuggy beneath the car, and then releases the arms, the springpressedyoke then urging the clutch into engagement with the axle of the car,namely the front axle when the car has been driven forwardly toward theelevator.

The forwardly projecting arm will then extend over the platform and ismoved into engagement with the chain. Themotor 66 1s then put intooperation and the chain runs on its sprockets, pulling the car acrossthe elevator.

The operator then shuts off the motor to stop the chain and operates theelevator to move the same to the floor to which the car is to betransferred. The operator through the motor 51 causes the platform torotate to position the guide rails vof the elevator platform inalignment with guide rails of a stall into which the car is to bedelivered, and the platform may be thus turned at any time, for example,before the elevator reaches the desired floor. When the platform isbrought into registry with the stall floor, the operator may reverse thechain operating motor whereupon the chain will pull the car through thearm 72 over` the elevator platform and into the stall. The forwardlyprojecting arm. 69 will at the same time receive the influence of thechain to cooperate with the rearwardly extending arm for moving the car.

When the car has been positioned in the stall the operator may releasethe clutch device by depressing the clutch members against the influenceof the spring 79 and move the buggy to the elevator.

A car may thus be driven toward an ele vator under its own power andforwardly, and is transferred to the elevator by the apparatus, thusavoiding the hazard of overdriving the elevator platform which mightoccur if the ear were driven onto the platform under its own power.

The car is latched to the elevator platform while being elevated, bytheclutch device engaged with the platform restained chain.

The car is transferred from the elevator to the stall by being backedinto the stall through operation of the chain, and is under the controlof the operator who stands on the platform in a position to observe therelation of the car to the stall walls and assure that the car will beproperly located in the stall.

The car is transferred from the stall'to the elevator by themethod abovedescribed for moving the car from the entrance guide rails to theelevator. T he elevator is then moved vertically to position theplatform by delivering the car, and the platform is rotated to align theplatform rails with the rails of the receiving area. TheA car is thentransferred from the elevator to the receiving area, for example, theexit area, and may be driven away under its own power.

When the buggy moves past the sprocket for delivering a car to a stallor to an exit area. on the lnain floor, the advance end of the clutchdevice. whether the end of the arm 69 or the end of the arm 72, isreleased from the chain by engagement of the lug-like hook thereon withthe spurs of the rotating sprocket while the rearward end of the clutchdevice continues in latching engagement with the chain and is releasedfrom the chain by the operator afterhe depresses the clutch members torelease the buggy from the car axle.

The arms 69 and 72 are preferably. hingedly connected at a point spacedinwardly from the lip 7 5 on the arm 72 to leave a shoulder to engagethe axle and the yoke is connected to the arm 72, whereby the arm 69which is the advance portion of the clutch device under forward deliveryof a car from the elevator at the exit, may fall upon release from thechain. The lip or hook member 76 of the arm therefore tips or pivotsaway from the car axle, and permits the car to move forwardly away fromthe clutch device under im ulse conferred bythe pushing arm 72.

t is apparent-that a storage device may be constructed to acconnnodatevehicles of various sizes, the diameter of the elevator openings and theelevator platform structure being proportionate to the Width of stallsrequired for the vehicles and the length of the stalls being adjusted tothe length of the vehicles and' the available space between side wallsor adjacent stall groups.

What I claim and desire to sec-ure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the 'character described,-

a support having a. slotted floor provided with an elevator opening,means for moving an elevator vertically in said opening into registrywith the floor, and an elevator comprising a frame including radialmembers extending into said slots and adapted to be connected with theelevator moving means.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a support including a floorprovided with an elevator opening and slotsv extending radially fromsaid opening, guide members located `on said Hoor radially of theopening between adjacent slots, an elevator, means for moving theelevator vertically in said opening into registry with the floor, saidelevator comprising a frame including radial members extending into saidslots and adapted to be connected with the elevator moving means, andmeans for positioning a vehicle on the elevator in alignment with saidguide members.

3. In combination with floors of a building having registering circularopenings constituting an elevator shaft, stationary guide membersextending through the floors eXteriorly of said openings and anelevator, ncluding a. circular platform, movable in said shaft,including radial guide members projected for travel in guiding contactWith s'aid stationary guide members.

4. In combination with floors of a building having registering circularopenings constii tuting' an elevator shaft and having aligningradialopenings leading from the circular openings, stationaryguidemembers extend- -ing through the floors'exteriorly ofthe circularopenings but accessible therefrom, and an elevator movable in saidshaft, including radial guide members in guiding and thrust relationwith the stationary members.

5. In combination with floors of a building having registering circularopenings constituting an elevator shaft and having aligning radialopenings leading from the circular openings, stationary guide members inthe radial openings and an elevator movable in said shaft, includingradial guide members projected for travel in said radial floor openingsin guiding contact with said stationary guide members.

6. In combination with oors of a building having registering circularopenings constituting an elevator shaft and having aligning radialopenings leading from the circular said stationary guide members, and acircular platfornl on the frame.

7. In combination with floors of a building having registering circularopenings constituting an elevator shaft and having aligning radialopenings leading from the circular openings, stationary guide members inthe radial openings and an elevator movable in said shaft, including aframe having radial guide members projected for travel in said radialfloor openings in guiding .contact with said stationary guide members,and a circular platform rotatably mounted on the frame.

8. In combination with floors of a building having registering circularopenings constituting an elevator shaft andhaving aligning radialopenings leading from the circular openings` vertical rails in saidradial openings constituting stationary guide and thrust receivingmembers, and an elevator movable in said shaft, including radial armsprojected for travel in the radial floor openopenings, vertical rails insaid radial openings constituting stationary guide and thrust receivingmembers, an elevator movable in said shaft, including a frame havingradial arms projected for travel in the radial iioor openings in guidingand thrust relation with said vertical rails, and a circular platformrotatably mounted on the frame.

10. In combination With floors of a building having registering circularopenings constituting an elevator shaft and having aligning radialopenings leading from the circular openings, stationary guide membersextending through the floors exteriorly of the circular openings butaccessible therefrom, an elevator movable in saidv shaft, includingradial guide members in guiding and thrust relation With the stationarymembers, andcountervveights connected With the elevator at spaced pointsadjacent the periphery thereof.

1Il In combination with iioors of a building having registering circularopenings constituting an elevator shaft and having aligning radialopenings leading from the circular openings, stationary guide membersextending through the floors exteriorly of the circular openings butaccessible therefrom, an elevator movable in said shaft, includingradial guide members in guiding and thrust relation With the stationarymembers, couliterweight guide-s extending through the floors in spacedrelation about the circular openings, counterweights in the guides, andflexible means connecting the counterweights with the elevator atcircumferentially spaced points and adj accnt the periphery thereof.

12. In combination with floors of a building having registering circularopenings constituting an elevator shaft and having aligning radialopenings leading from the circular openings, stationary guide membersextending through the floors exteriorly of the circular openings butaccessible therefrom, an elevator movable in said shaft, includingradial guide members in guiding and thrust relation With the stationarymembers, counterweight guides extending through the floors in spacedrelation about the circular openings, counterweights in the guides,flexible means connecting the counterweights With the elevator atcircumferentially spaced points and adjacent the periphery'thereof, andvehicle guiding means on the floors between the stationary guides.

13. In combination with floors of a building having registering openingsconstituting an elevator shaft, stationary guide members extendingthrough the floors exteriorly of the openings, an elevator movable inthe shaft yincluding arms having guide relation with said stationarymembers, paired sheaves ar- 'ranged respectively adjacent the center andperiphery of the elevator, flexible members fixed at their ends andextending radially over the paired sheaves, and means for actuating 'theflexible members to raise and lower the elevator.

14. In combination with floors of a building having registering openingsconstituting an elevator shaft, stationary guide members extendingthrough the floors exteriorly of the openings, an elevator movable inthe shaft including arms having guide relation with said stationarymembers, a plurality of sheaves arranged radially about the center ofthe elevator, sheaves on the elevator adjacent the periphery thereofpaired With the center sheaves, flexible members fixed at their ends tostationary portions of the building and extended radially over pairedsheaves, and means for actuating the flexible members to raise and lowerthe elevator.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM l?. ALLRED, JR.

